Tuvalu PM says no Japanese whaling bribe

The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Maatia Toafa, has denied accusations his country was swayed towards voting in favour of killing whales through financial assistance from Japan.

Mr Toafa told the Herald from Tuvalu his country was able to form its own opinion on the issue independent of outside influences.

"It is our decision-making."

New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter this week told the Herald poor Pacific countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomons were in the pockets of the Japanese, and voted accordingly on "promises of aid".

The three countries on Monday voted with Japan on its failed bid to allow secret ballots.

On Tuesday, Tuvalu and the Solomons voted in favour of Japan's failed bid to move towards a return to limited commercial whaling, while Kiribati abstained.

Nauru, also alleged to have been bribed by Japan, had not shown up in South Korea for the voting.

Mr Toafa said Japan had supplied aid money to Tuvalu for capital projects for about a decade, but there had not been any extra aid attached to how it would vote at the IWC.

Tuvalu last year joined the International Whaling Commission, now meeting in South Korea, and had received no extra money or indications of it from Japan in that time, he said.

Mr Toafa said Tuvalu supported limited whaling at a sustainable level.

He was happy with the status quo, the current levels being acceptable, but said Tuvalu would reconsider its position regarding any moves by Japan to kill more whales.

Mr Toafa said Tuvalu was represented at the IWC by its acting secretary to government who had the mandate to decide how to vote.

Tuvalu was open to discussions on whaling from both sides, but Mr Toafa added he would not appreciate undue pressure from Australia or New Zealand, countries from which it also received aid.

"Our big brothers are not to interfere with our decision-making process," he said.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand respected the right of other countries to form their policies, but the Government was keen to engage in discussions on the scientific merits of a whaling ban.

New Zealand would not consider sanctions as they were inappropriate and aid it contributed to those Pacific islands was aimed at lifting people out of poverty, he said.

A spokesman for the Japanese Embassy in Wellington said Japan categorically denied allegations that it bribed countries through overseas aid.

Japan gave aid to many countries, including some in the anti-whaling camp, like India, Argentina and Peru, he said.